Minister welcomes responsibility for PGD

Building and
Construction Minister Shane Jones today takes over
administrative responsibility for the 2006 Plumbers,
Gasfitters and Drainlayers (PGD) Act.

The transfer is
about administrative rationalisation and a logical move
because the functions of the PGD Board relate closely to the
other functions carried out by the Department of Building
and Housing and the Minister for Building and
Construction.

The transfer has been planned for some time
(Cabinet made its decision in April 2006),and the timing
is appropriate with the change from the 1976 Act to the 2006
Act with little change initially expected to be seen from
the industry point of view.

This complements the
Minister’s responsibilities for Electrical Workers,
Licensed Building Practitioners, Chartered Professional
Engineers, Engineering Associates and Architects.

Mr Jones
said he is looking forward to meeting with representatives
from the PGD industry, and receiving feedback.

“I
welcome these additional responsibilities and I look forward
to meeting with the board and discussing the relevant issues
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers face,” Mr Jones
said.

He said he is aware that there is some concern
within the industry about recent increases for registration
fees decided by the PGD Board before Christmas from $85 to
$155 per licence from April this year.

“In addition
there are still a number of outstanding issues to be
addressed from the independent report published last year
(Hazel Armstrong report, 2006),” Mr Jones said.

The
Minister will also consider board appointments around the
middle of the year and will be looking carefully to the
board to ensure that the best skills and governance ability
are available to move the industry
forward.

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